Braced head dome valve



R. E. CUMMINGS BRACED HEAD DOME VALVE April 6, 1948.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1945 N EN U Baberl E. Cumminjs fi yfi R. E. CUMMINGS BRACED HEAD DOME VALVE Filed Jan. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7, 2 i M /Z 54 4 2 w c 5 2 M fl a 5 Q Y N EN U 1906:97 2 E C'umminys V-shaped groove.

gitudinal cross section, illustrating the separate valve body, brace, and head dome shown in assembled relation in Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a broken longitudinal cross-sectional view, with a portion in side elevation, of a hollow poppet Valve made from the parts shown in Figures 7 and 8.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figure 1 the reference numeral l designates generally the main hollow body portion of the first form of valve according to this invention. This main hollow body portion includes a hollow stem lfla with an outwardly flaring tulip end or valve neck Iilb. The tip end of the stem Illa is closed as at lilo and a groove lilcl is provided in the closed end of the stem for receiving a valve spring retainer look (not shown). The valve neck portion lllb of the body [0 has an upstanding rim end Hie with a countersunk face l0 providing a recess which receives a thin-walled head dome II. This head dome has a peripheral edge Ila beveled back from the side wall of the recess lflf to cooperate therewith for forming a Welding metal is puddled into this V-shaped groove to form a welded bond I2 integrally aflixing the head dome to the valve body.

The neck lllb of the valve body l0 has integral ribs or fins I3 extending radially inward therefrom and spaced apart 120 as shown in Figure 2. The three ribs or fins l3 thus provided terminate in spaced relation from each other at their inner ends as shown in Figure 2 to provide an openin l4 continuing the bore of the hollow stem 10a up to the head dome ll and thereby simplifying the insertion of tools for finishing the bore of the stem Illa. These fins l3 extend down into the throat of the valve as illustrated at [3a in Figure 1 and extend up to top edges I317 having the same contour as the bottom face of the head dome H and bottoming this bottom face of the head dome,

Prior to welding the head dome l l into the recess 10 of the body l0, coolant C, such as metallic sodium, is introduced into the body through the open head end thereof to partly fill the body. The finished poppet valve of Figure 1 thus has a thin-walled head dome ll braced from its periphery inwardly to its central portion at three equally spaced areas. The braces are formed integral with the neck portion of the valve body and extend inwardly into the hollow head chamber of the valve to also serve as heat-dissipating fins.

In the second form of the invention, illustrated in Figure 3, a hollow main valve body [5 has a hollow tubular stem portion lid with an outwardly flaring tulip end or valve neck portion 15b. The tubular stem portion l5a has a closed end [50 with a valve spring retainer lock groove l5d therein. The valve neck portion [5b has an upstanding rim end l5e with an inwardly extending head wall l5;f terminating in a beveled edge defining an open mouth for the valve body.

A head dome l6 has a beveled peripheral edge 16a cooperating with the edge of the wall l5 to provide a V-shaped groove for receiving welding metal I! to form a welded bond integrally uniting the head dome with the valve body.

The head dome l6 has three integral depending fins or ribs I8 spaced at 120 intervals therearound. Each rib l8 has a bottom edge lBa shaped to the contour of the valve neck l5b so as to have snug seating engagement with the neck wall as shown in Figure 3. Each fin or rib l8 extends inwardly from the periphery of the head dome Hi to an inner edge l8b spaced radially outward from the tubular stem portion l5a of the valve body and then converging to provide curved arches I connecting these inner edges l8b with the center of the head dome.

The outer edges of the fins I8, as shown in Figure 3, terminate short of the inner edge of the upstanding rim portion l5e of the valve body to provide spaces such as S for circulation of cooling fluid around the fins.

As in the first form of the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the valve body l5 of Figure 3 is first partially filled with coolant C before the head dome I6 is welded into position. In this second form of the invention the head dome carries integral depending ribs or fins which are bottomed on the neck of the valve body along an area equivalent in length to the width of the fins, since the bottom edges Illa of the fins are contoured to fit the neck walls along their entire length.

In the third form of the invention, illustrated in Figure 6, there is provided a poppet valve having a hollow body 20 with a tubular'stem portion 20a and an outwardly flaring tulip end or neck portion 20b. As in the valves of Figures 1 and 3, the tubular stem portion 20a has a closed end 200 with a retainer lock groove 20d therearound and the neck 20b has an upstanding rim portion 20c with an inwardly extending top wall 20 having a beveled edge defining an inle mouth to the interior of the body.

A thin-walled head dome 2| has a beveled peripheral edge 2 la cooperating with the edge of the wall section 20 to provide a V-shaped groove which receives welding metal 22 for bonding the head dome to the valve body. The head dome 2| has an integral depending brace composed of three legs 23 spaced. apart. These legs 23 have thickened outer ends 23a providing rounded bottom 23b arranged to seat on localized points of the valve neck 20?). The legs or fins 23 have curved bottom edges 23c providing arches extending from the rounded ends 23b to the center of the head dome.

In the third form of the invention, illustrated .in Figure 5, the head dome 2| is braced by three integral depending fins which only have point contact with the valve neck 201) instead of having elongated area contact as in Figure 3.

The thickened ends 23a of the ribs or fins are spaced inwardly from the inside wall defining the upstanding rim 20a of the valve to provide spaces S around which the coolant C in the valve can flow in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 3.

In the fourth embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 7 to 9, a hollow main valve body 25 having a hollow tubular stem portion 25a and an outwardly flared tul-ip end or neck portion 251) has the tip end of the stem portion enclosed as at 25c and has a groove 25d around the closed end 250. The neck portion 251) has an upstanding rim end 25c with an inturned wall overlying the head cavity and having a beveled inner edge 25) providing a reduced-diameter opening to the valve cavity. The overhanging wall has three grooves 259 extending inwardly from the inner edge 25 at equally spaced intervals around the wall.

The opening defined by the beveled wall 25 of the valve body 25 is closed by a head dome 26 adap ed toreeelye ;we1.d ns.;.metaie21; tor. .fhrmin a, Weldedabondintegr'ally unitingtheheaddome' t ethe...v.al v body.

ihhlft tclhmdaic 13;QIQYid9 dffil tracing the head. :dome,.;from;the ,valve, neck: ,This :brace, 28 has yashallow teentralspoint 128a. -.with.;three* legs zfihiradiating therefrom and-increasing i'nrdepth bath .outen dsesthereof....Thelegs have rounded oute endport s. .Zfidcontoured. to snugly La -ngage the rounded inner-wall,of'v the body ri'rn;I-25e. The,..,roundeduends 28ic'l'rnerge into the inclined bottom edges 28b contoured to snugly engage the inner wall of the ri'e ck''2 b;

ee a-li s-p i a .-..-P9 ZiQI 9i brace 28 cannot fit within the reduced diarneter-p oning defined by the edge 25f, these outer ends are seated in the valve thl'o'lighth slots 259. As shown Figure 9, the outer; edges 28c have snug fitt n a gs semenmv ih th i e i sc ibe whil th b i s r 5. hav snug 'fitting:; engagement with the inner zwall of the neck 25!).

The brace 2 8"isheld against rotation in the valve by peening thasloted'efining walls the against. the ,outer edges: 28c? after .the bra-canes been inserted in the slots and the slots are then closed with the same welding metal 2'! that bonds the head dome to the valve body.

The valve body 25 is partially filled with coolant C prior to closing the open head end thereof with the head dome 26 and preferably prior to insertion of the brace member 28.

The head dome 25 is firmly seated on the top edges of the brace legs 28b and, since the bottom edges of these legs are seated on the valve neck 25b the head dome is a'mply braced against inward deflection or collapse.

From the above descriptions it will be understood that this invention now provides hollow poppet valves having head domes which are braced by fins, ribs or the like that are bottomed on the neck of the valve. The braced head dome can be quite thin and will still effectively resist high pressures such as occur in the combustion chamber of internal combustion engines operating at high compression ratios. In addition, the fins or ribs forming the braces for the valves of this invention serve as effective heat radiators. Since the valves of this invention are partially filled with coolant that is liquid at operating temperatures, such as metallic sodium, the heat-radiating fins or ribs are in intimate heat-exchange relationship with the coolant and heat from the head portion of the valve is quickly dissipated down through the stem portion of the valve.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hollow poppet valve which comprises a main body portion having a hollow neck, a plurality of inwardly projecting ribs integral with said neck, and a head dome for said valve bottomed on said ribs and integrally bonded to said neck for closing the open end of the neck portion.

2. A hollow poppet valve comprising a main body part having a tubular stem-defining portion with a closed stem tip end and an outwardly flaring open valve neck end, said outwardly flaring valve neck end having three inwardly projectingiiintegral zribs therein spaced. at: l20?;':intervals therearbund and terminating adj acent, Ftheainner surface; 'of the. stem portion, said having elongated .uppiernnda lying in the; mouth or; the neck portion, and a head-domebottomed onsa-id elongated nppen'ends. iofptherribs and welded to thegneck'portion 'for closingvth'e "open; mouth thereon.

.3. .A fcoolant: filled hollow ipdppetwaive come prising; a main body .m'embe'r.fhaving.;a..hollow neck; portion withan open mouth,.anda relatively thin. walled .headzdomeclosing said openmouth of the. neck'portion havingintegral;:depeiiding coin: pression load carryingribs bottomed on theneck portiomof: the; valve. for; bracing the head doine against inwardicollapset .fi. inpoppetvalve.comprising-lalnainbodymem= berlhavingi, a. hollow tubular. stern Land an out-1 wardly, flaring. tulip. end jcleflnin'g, a .valye. heck withan .:open..mouth, a lthinuwalledwheasdi dome closing 5 said openjmouth :an'd havingiintegral; depending compression load carrying. ribs bottomed oirsald neck, portion along'fa; plurality ofiel'ongated areas thereoflsaid ribs stiffening said thlnr'wa-lled head dome and bracing the dome against inward collapse; v

5. A coolant filled poppetvalvecomprislng a main body member having a hollow neck portion with an open mouth at the head end thereof, and a head dome closing said open mouth of the neck portion having a plurality of depending compression load carrying legs firmly bottomed at spaced points on the neck portion of the valve for reinforcing the head dome against inward collapse.

6. A poppet valve comprising a main body member with a hollow neck portion having an inturned head flange defining an opening to the interior of the body, said inturned head flange having an outwardly flaring beveled opening defining edge, a thin head dome seated in said opening having an inwardly flaring beveled edge cooperating with said outwardly flaring beveled edge of the inturned flange to define a V-groove, welding metal filling said V-groove bonding said head dome to said inturned flange, and a compression load carrying stifl head dome brace extending between and acting on said head dome and the neck of the valve in said valve body for resisting inward collapse of the head dome.

7. A coolant filled poppet valve comprising a main body having an outwardly flaring hollow neck portion with an inturned head flangedefining an opening at the end of the neck, a thin head dome closing the open end of the neck portion in alignment with said inturned flange, and depending compression load carrying ribs on said head dome firmly bottomed on said neck portion, said ribs terminating radially inward of said head flange, to fit in said opening defined by said head flange and to cooperate with said neck portion for providing a continuous path under the head flange around the ribs.

8. A poppet valve comprising a main body member having a hollow neck portion with an inturned head-defining flange providing a opening in the interior of the body, said flange having a plurality of radial slots therein, a brace bottomed on said neck portion of the body having legs seated in said slots, a head dome closing said opening bottomed on said brace, and welding material integrally connecting said head dome with said head flange and closing said slots.

9. A hollow poppet valve comprising a main body member having a hollow neck portion with an open mouth, and a thin head dome closing said 7 open mouth and having three integral depending compression load carrying ribs spaced at 120 intervals therearound firmly bottomed on the neck portion of the valve for bracing the head dome against inward collapse.

10. In a hollow head coolant-filled poppet valve having a neck portion and a relatively thin-walled head dome, the improvement which comprises compression-load carrying brace structure in load-carrying relation between said dome and neck and supported by said neck, said brace structure being localized in said hollow head to leave substantially the entire head cavity free for circulation of coolant therein,

11. In a hollow head poppet valve having a neck portion and a relatively thin-walled head dome, the improvement which comprises a compression load-carrying head dome brace in said hollow head supported by said neck portion of the valve and bridging substantially the entire span of the head dome in supporting relation to said dome, said brace comprising a plurality of thin fins of substantial radial length extending between said head dome and valve neck and spaced one from another in substantially spoke formation and firmly bottomed on said neck to prevent inward collapse of the thin-walled head dome.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,294,416 Dady Feb. 18, 1919 2,218,983 Daisley Oct. 22, 1940 2,238,628 Daisley Apr. 15, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 440,206 I Great Britain Dec. 23, 1935 

